TO rally more home support for the Philippine National Men’s Football Team (PNMFT), free Upper Grandstand seats will be offered to Filipino fans when the squad faces the Maldives in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
The match will take place on March 25, 2025, at the sprawling New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) announced on its official social media pages that while Upper Grandstand seats are free, fans can also opt for premium seating.
Lower Grandstand tickets are priced at an affordable P450, while VIP section seats are available for P750.
The Philippines, drawn into Group A, will compete against Tajikistan, Maldives, and Timor-Leste in a home-and-away double round-robin format.
Only the top team from the group will secure a coveted spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
“The coaching staff is excited and ready for the challenge,” said Team Manager and Director of National Senior Teams, Freddy Gonzalez.
Currently ranked No. 150 in the latest FIFA rankings, the Philippines enters the qualifiers with momentum following an impressive campaign in the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup. The squad stunned regional powerhouses en route to the semifinals, defeating Indonesia, 1-0, to secure their first final-four appearance since 2018.
They continued their strong performance by edging out defending champions Thailand, 2-1, in the first leg of their semifinal clash, breaking a 52-year losing streak against the War Elephants before ultimately bowing out on aggregate.
Ranked No. 162 in the FIFA rankings, the Maldives is expected to be a formidable opponent in what promises to be a highly competitive Group A.
The PNMFT recently unveiled its 24-man squad, featuring new recruits Randy Schneider and Josef Baccay.
Schneider, a midfielder, has a Swiss father and a Filipina mother, while Baccay, a defender, was born to a Filipino father and a Norwegian mother.
Both 23-year-olds bring international experience and depth to the squad.
The coaching staff is also eyeing additional overseas-based players, including Andre Leipold and the Markanich brothers, Nick and Anthony.
Adding to the team’s firepower, German Bundesliga mainstay Gerrit Holtmann and Thai League standout Jefferson Tabinas are expected to make their return after missing the Mitsubishi Electric Cup. Their presence will be crucial as coach Albert Capellas’ squad aims for a strong start in the final phase of the continental qualifiers.